Major Walter Clopton Wingfield

Major Walter Clopton Wingfield is often credited as the inventor of tennis, however is only recorded as demonstrating his racket game of Sphairistike to Lord Lansdowne in 1869 – four years after Gem and Perera played their first recorded match. In addition Sphairistike was played on an hour glass shaped court in contrast to Gem and Perera’s rectangular court. However, Major Wingfield deserves recognition for the promotion of his game, including selling sets of equipment and instructions to play the game.